Method and device implementing a player configurable gaming machine

ABSTRACT

A player configurable video gaming machine in which a player may select one or more configuration inputs to play a previously configured default game or to create a new game configuration. Additionally, each game configuration may be saved to be implemented in various gaming machines.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisionalapplication Serial No. 60/155,436 filed Sep. 22, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In general, this invention relates to a method for implementing aplayer configurable video gaming machine and in particular, to a menudriven player configurable video gaming machine that allows a player tomake cosmetic and substantive chances to a video game while maintainingpre-set gaming machine pay tables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Video gaming machines have become an integral part of the gamingindustry. Typically, a gaming establishment offers players a widevariety of video gaming machines having different gaming configurations,game themes and game features. For example, to increase playerexcitement, some prior art video gaming machines increase the number oftypical potential winning combinations to produce a larger frequency oflower winning amounts. Other prior art gaming machines offer fewerpotential winning combinations while providing higher winning amountsfor the player who is willing to wait for a bigger win. Theseconfigurations are then implemented in a variety of game themes and witha variety of features such as multiple pay lines or bonus games.

[0004] As often occurs in gaming establishments, players develop apreference for a particular configuration of gaming machines, gamethemes, and game features. However, the prior art video gaming machinesimplementing the combination of configuration, themes and featurestypically limited these settings in which they are pre-set. Thus tosatisfy multiple requests for popular and/or different user requests, agaming establishment must offer the players multiple gaming machinesimplementing a variety of configuration combinations.

[0005] As player interest changes, gaming establishments mustconsistently survey player usage and change the mix of video gamingmachines as game theme and configuration preferences increase ordecrease. Furthermore, player preference may also change during a gamingsession. For example, in the prior art, a player wishing to continuegaming with a particular game theme, but wishing to change theconfiguration such as increasing the bet denomination or winningamounts, would have to seek a new video gaming machine. Often, if theother gaming machine is not easily accessible, the player may loseinterest and discontinue gaming.

[0006] Some prior art gaming machines have attempted to incorporatepartial user modification to the game. One such prior art method isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,424 to Alfred Wilms entitled VIDEOGAMING DEVICE UTILIZING PLAYER-ACTIVATED VARIABLE BETTING. The Wilmspatent discloses a video card gaming machine in which a player isallowed to insert different denomination coins into the machine to varythe wager and simulate table gaming. However, the Wilms patent does notdisclose allowing a player to adjust multiple configurations within thevideo card gaming machine, and is limited to allowing the player to varyonly the wager amount. Thus, the Wilms patent does not resolve the issueof varying the configuration of other non-card based video games tosatisfy user demand.

[0007] It is therefore desirable to provide a gaming machine in which aplayer may configure a video gaming machine by inputting one or moregame configurations.

BRIEF SUMMARY THE INVENTION

[0008] Based on the above-noted deficiencies in the prior art, it is anobject of the present invention to provide a video gaming machine inwhich a player may select one or more game configurations on the game.

[0009] This and other objects of the present invention are implementedin a video gaming machine providing an option menu allowing a player toconfigure a particular game on the gaming machine. A user initiates thevideo gaming machine by inserting a credit access device into the gamingmachine. Upon initiating the game, the player is prompted to eitherbegin playing a previously configured game or to create a new game. Tocreate a new game, the system prompts the player with a menu to selectvarious configurations of a video game. After completing the inputprocess, the gaming machine most closely matches the desiredconfiguration combinations with various default game configurationspreprogrammed into the computer. The player can accept the default gamesuggested by the gaming machine, or the gaming machine will configure anew game by altering a default setting to the specific configurationcriteria inputted by the player.

[0010] In the event a new game is configured, the gaming machine mustrelatively maintain a pre-set pay table for the gaming machine.Accordingly, the gaming machine logic determines whether the inputtedconfiguration modification will substantially impact the gaming machinepay table. If a modification impacts the return, the gaming machineadjusts other configurations within the game to maintain the pay table.Other player inputs are of a cosmetic nature and are implemented by thegaming machine without the need to modify other configuration criteria

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The objects and features of the invention noted above areexplained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which likereference numerals denote like elements, and in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a representative of a gaming machine of the presentinvention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is flow diagram of a preferred method implemented by theplayer configurable gaming machine of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 3 is representative of a video display screen utilized by theplayer configurable gaming machine of the present invention; and

[0015]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method implemented by the playerconfigurable gaming machine of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] The present invention relates to a method and device forimplementing a menu driven player configurable video game 1. FIG. 1denotes a representative video gaming machine, denoted generally by thereference numeral 10. Gaming machine 10 includes video display 12,credit display 14, input 16, buttons 18 and 20, and output 22. As wouldbe understood by someone skilled in the relevant art, gaming machine 10can be implemented as a stand alone gaming machine or as one of aplurality of gaming machines controlled via a central processing system.Furthermore, gaming machine 10 can include a variety of features, suchas inputs (i.e., magnetic card reader, gaming coupon reader, currencyacceptor), outputs (i.e., bar code printers and coin hoppers), and othervariations of video gaming machines. All are considered within the scopeof the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is flow diagram of a preferred method implemented by theplayer configurable gaming machine of the present invention. At StepS100, a player initiates the video gaming machine by inserting creditaccess devices such as currency, gaining coupons, or magnetic cards. Theplayer may also be prompted to insert player tracking devices such asmagnetic cards or smart cards. At Step S110, the player is prompted withthe option of loading a previously configured game. At Step S120, theplayer would be allotted to insert memory storage devices, such ascomputer disks, magnetic media, smart cards, CD-ROMS, and DVD, into thegaming machine to read the configuration data. Alternatively, the gamingestablishment may also provide memory storage space to some or allplayers, such that they can recall previously saved programs withouthaving to insert any memory storage devices. This memory storage spacemay be limited to a single machine, a group of machines, or the entiregroup of gaming machines within the gaming establishment. Havingaccessed a saved configuration, the player game would begin at StepS130.

[0018] If the player does not choose to load a saved configuration ordoes not have a previously saved configuration at Step S110, gamingmachine prompts the player to input various configuration criteria atStep S140. Preferably, the player is prompted to enter the variouscriteria via a display screen menu or a series of menus. FIG. 3 is arepresentative of a preferred display screen 24 prompting a player toenter in desired game characteristics. In this display screen, the useris selecting the wagering denomination 26 and the number of pay lines28. As would be understood, other configuration characteristics wouldinclude, but not be limited to, frequency of payout, size of jackpots,game theme, bonus games, and play speed and would be considered withinthe scope of the present invention.

[0019] Additionally, the gaming establishment may limit the number ofcharacteristics a player may alter or require the player to enter in aminimum number of characteristics. For example, if a player wishes tochange the frequency of winning combinations, the gaming establishmentcan maintain the machines pay table by programming the game machine 10to prevent the size of the award from being adjusted by the player.

[0020] After inputting, the desired or necessary characteristics at StepS140, the gaming machine most closely matches the inputted desiredcharacteristics with previously configured default games stored inmemory at Step S150. Depending on the configuration parameters set bythe gaming establishment, each gaming machine may store one or moredefault gaming configurations in memory. Alternatively, a centralprocessing system may store the default configuration and downloadmatching configurations to an individual gaming machine.

[0021] After the gaming machine matches or closely matches a defaultconfiguration, it asks the player to play the default configuration atStep S160. If the player accepts the default configuration at Step S170splay begins at Step S830. If the player does not accept the mostclosely matching default configurations, the gaming machine configuresone or more new games with the desired characteristics at Step S180 andthe user beings play at Step S130.

[0022] To configure the new game at Step S180, gaming machine preferablyidentifies and groups the inputted configuration criteria into filteringconfiguration changes, substantive configuration changes, and cosmeticconfiguration changes. Filtering configuration changes are changes thatrequire the system to select a default configuration most closelyassociate with the inputted criteria and do not require a change to agame configuration. One example of a filtering configuration change isbet denomination. If a player selects a specific bet denomination,gaming machine selects a version of a game whose pay table has beenpre-configured for the specific denomination selected by the player(i.e. higher denomination bets have a higher payback percentage).Alternatively, if the pay table is not pre-configured to have varyingpayback percentages for varying bet denominations, the gaming machinemay maintain the same payback percentage for all sizes of bettingdenominations.

[0023] In contrast, substantive configuration changes include gameconfigurations that would alter the pay table of the machine. Suchsubstantive changes may include changing the prize profile of the game(i.e., frequent small wins, less frequent large rains). To implement asubstantive configuration change gaming machine modifies a default gameconfiguration by changing the selected configuration criteria. However,because substantive configuration changes would affect the pay table ofthe game, the gaming machine adjusts other parameters to maintain apredefined pay table and payback percentage. For example, if the playerinput adjusts the win frequency of one category within the game, thegaming machine maintains the pay table by decreasing the win frequencyin another category. Preferably, the player is allowed to change severalcharacteristics such as win frequency and size of award in a singlecategory. As would be understood, categories include one or more winningcombinations and payout opportunities available in the gaming device.For example, a winning combination may include hitting five plumbs on aslot machine type game. Because win frequency and size of award could beconsidered substantive configuration changes, gaming machine 10 wouldpreferably compensate for the changes by adjusting the combination ofwin frequencies and award amounts in another category.

[0024] Finally, cosmetic changes can be implemented by gaming machine 10without altering the pay table. Such cosmetic changes include gametheme, type of bonus feature, play speed and number of pay lines.Because these characteristics generally do not affect the pay table ofthe machine, gaming machine loads default games with the desiredsubstantive configuration and implements the inputted desired cosmeticchances. As would be understood, player may input both substantive andcosmetic changes.

[0025] As would be understood, depending on the specific implementationof the gaming machine, some configuration characteristics could beclassified differently. For example prize profiles may be considered afiltering chance if there are pre-existing default games closelymatching inputted prize profile. All are considered within the scope ofthe present invention.

[0026]FIG. 4 denotes a flow diagram of an alternative embodiment of themethod implemented by the gaming machine of the present invention. AtStep S400, a player initiates the video gaming machine by insertingcredit access devices such as currency, gaming coupons, or magneticcards. As in the other method, this step includes the insertion of avariety of credit input, as well as player tracking devices. At StepS410, the player has the option of loading a previously configured game.If the player selects to play a saved game, the game is loaded at StepS420 and the play begins at Step S430. Similar to the previousembodiment, there are multiple ways of loading a previously savedconfiguration.

[0027] If the player does not choose to load a saved configuration ordoes not have a saved configuration at Step S410, the gaming machineenters into a cascading configuration selection sequence at Step S440through Step S4110. At Step S440, the player first chooses a betdenomination or changes a default denomination. After the plainerselects a denomination, the gaming machine matches a default game(s)which has a matching or closely matching configuration characteristicand prompts the player whether they want to play the default game atStep S450. If the player chooses the default game, play begins at StepS430.

[0028] If, at Step S450 the player does not choose a default game, thegaming machine prompts the player to choose the number of pay lines atStep S460. After the player selects the number of pay lines the gamingmachine most closely matches the default game(s) that have thecharacteristics and prompts the player to play the default games at StepS470. If the player chooses a default game, play begins at Step S430. Aswould be understood, in this embodiment, the gaming machine considersthe characteristics as cumulative and most closely matches the defaultgame having both characteristics. Alternatively, gaming machine 10 couldalso match default games having either characteristic.

[0029] If, at Step S470, the player does not choose the default game,the gaming machine prompts the payer to choose the win frequency at StepS480. After the player selects the win frequency, the gaming machinemost closely matches the default game(s) that have the characteristicsand prompts the player to play the default games at Step S490. If theplayer chooses a default game, play begins at Step S430. As would beunderstood, the gaming machine preferably most closely matches thedefault game having all the inputted characteristics. Alternatively, thegaming machine could also match default games having any combination ofthe inputted characteristics.

[0030] If, at Step S490, the player does not select a default game, thegaming machine prompts the player to choose various cosmeticconfigurations at Step S4100. In the preferred embodiment, cosmeticconfigurations include game theme, bonus feature, and play speed. Aswould be understood, additional, less or different ordered gameconfigurations in the cascading sequence would be considered within thescope of the present invention. Once the player selects the cosmeticconfigurations, the gaming machine configures the inputtedcharacteristics with 3 pre-set gaming machine pay table at Step S4110.The player then begins play at Step S430.

[0031] Regardless of whether the player configuration is implementedunder the method of FIG. 2 or the method of FIG. 4, the player may havethe option saving the configuration once it is entered by the user. Thesaving option can occur anytime after the player has configured the gameincluding before starting play, during the play and after completingplay of the game. Additionally, the gaming machine may alsoautomatically save the configuration for players that inserted playertracking cards. Configuration saving may occur directly in the memory ofthe gaming machine, in memory of the central processing system, or in aportable magnetic storage medium, such as a computer disk or a smartcard. As would be understood, some gaming machines may not incorporatesome or all of the game saving features.

[0032] In an effort to allow players to customize their configurations,an additional feature of the present invention allows the player to setup the gaming machine configuration on a computing device (such as a PC)and presave the configuration prior to entering the gamingestablishment. Such off-line creation could include machines that cansimulate the resulting game configurations and machines which only canaccept inputted criteria without simulating the resulting game.

[0033] As another additional feature to the present invention, gamingestablishments may also utilize player tracking devices to assist inchoosing the suggested default games offered to the player. In anembodiment, the gaming machine would keep a record of game themecombinations the player has a history of playing and would suggest adefault game most closely matching both the inputted criteria and theplayer's personal history.

[0034] As a further feature of the invention, gaming establishments mayalso track player preferences and configure the game when the playerenters an identification card without any need to prompt the player toselect configuration criteria. Under this embodiment, the gaming machinedetects a specific player by various player tracking devices andconfigures the machine according to the preprogrammed criteria. Thus, aplayer would find his or her “favorite” machine regardless of whichspecific gaming machine was selected.

[0035] All embodiments of this present invention have been directedtoward player configurations. Alternatively, the present invention couldalso be utilized by the gaming establishments to configure video gamingmachines. In an embodiment, the gaming establishment would input some orall of the game configurations in lieu of the player input. This wouldallow gaming establishments to design their own games and to allow avideo gaming machine to implement various configurations according togaming establishment control. For example, a gaming machine may beconfigured to run high frequency low payout wins during the day and bereconfigured to give more lucrative, less frequent wins in the evenings.As would be understood, the gaming establishments may also implementpartial control in which a player is allowed to change a limited numberof game configurations.

[0036] The invention is considered to have been described in such full,clear, concise and exact terms as to enable a person of ordinary skillin the art to make and use the same. It will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, that a person understanding this invention mayconceive of changes or other embodiments or variations, which utilizethe principles of this invention without departing from the broaderspirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.All ale considered within the sphere, spirit and scope of the invention.The specification and drawings are, therefore, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than restrictive sense. Accordingly, it is notintended that the invention be limited except as may be necessary inview of the appended claims or their equivalents, which particularlypoint out and distinctly claim the subject matter applicant regards asits invention.

We claim:
 1. A method for implementing a player configurable video gamein a gaming establishment the method comprising:. obtaining player gameconfiguration data, wherein the data includes one or more inputs;comparing each of the one or more inputs with one or more default gameparameters; and providing one or more default games most closelyassociated with the game configuration data.
 2. The method as recited inclaim 1, wherein obtaining game configuration data includes receivingthe game configuration data from a previously programmed game.
 3. Themethod as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining game configuration dataincludes receiving the game configuration data from a memory storagedevice.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining gameconfiguration data includes receiving the game configuration data from aremote memory storage location.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1,wherein obtaining game configuration data includes receiving the gameconfiguration data from a player operating the video game.
 6. The methodas recited in claim 1, wherein providing one or more default gamesincludes receiving the default games from the video game.
 7. The methodas recited in claim 1, wherein providing one or more default gamesincludes receiving the default games from a remote memory storagelocation.
 8. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising savinga game configuration.
 9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein thegame configuration is saved on the video game.
 10. The method as recitedin claim 8, wherein the game configuration is saved on a recordablemedium.
 11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the gameconfiguration is saved at a remote memory storage location.
 12. Themethod as recited in claim 1 further comprising pre-configuring a videogame before entering the gaming establishment.
 13. The method as recitedin claim 1 further comprising: tracking player game configurations atthe gaming establishment; recording the player game configurations; andcreating a custom game configuration from the recorded player gameconfigurations.
 14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the playergame configuration data is configured by a player.
 15. The method asrecited in claim 1, wherein the player game configuration data isconfigured by the gaming establishment.
 16. A method for implementing aplayer configurable video game in a gaming establishment, the methodcomprising: obtaining player game configuration data, wherein the dataincludes one or more inputs; comparing each of the one or more inputswith one or more default game parameters; configuring one or more newgames; and providing the one or more new games.
 17. The method asrecited in claim 16, wherein obtaining game configuration data includesreceiving the game configuration data from a previously programmed game.18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein obtaining gameconfiguration data includes receiving the game configuration data from aportable memory storage device.
 19. The method as recited in claim 16,wherein obtaining game configuration data includes receiving the gameconfiguration data from a remote memory storage location.
 20. The methodas recited in claim 16, wherein obtaining game configuration dataincludes receiving the game configuration data from a player operatingthe video game.
 21. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the oneor more default game parameters are stored on the video game.
 22. Themethod as recited in claim 16, wherein the one or more default gameparameters are stored on a remote memory storage location.
 23. Themethod as recited in claim 16 further comprising saving a gameconfiguration.
 24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the gameconfiguration is saved on the video game.
 25. The method as recited inclaim 23, wherein the game configuration is saved on a recordablemedium.
 26. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the gameconfiguration is saved at a remote memory storage location.
 27. Themethod as recited in claim 16 further comprising pre-configuring a videogame before entering the gaming establishment.
 28. The method as recitedin claim 16 further comprising: tracking player game configurations atthe gaming establishment; recording the player game configurations; andcreating a custom game configuration from the recorded player gameconfigurations.
 29. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein theplayer game configuration data is configured by a player.
 30. The methodas recited in claim 16, wherein the player game configuration data isconfigured by the gaming establishment.
 31. The method as recited inclaim 16, wherein configuring one or more new games includes returningone or more default games most closely associated with the playerconfiguration data.
 32. The method as recited in claim 16, whereinconfiguring one or more new games includes modifying the one or moredefault game parameters.
 33. The method as recited in claim 16, whereinconfiguring one or more new games includes modifying the appearance ofone or more default games.
 34. A method for implementing a playerconfigurable video game, the method comprising: obtaining gameconfiguration data, wherein the data includes an input; comparing theinput with one or more default game parameters; providing one or moredefault games most closely associated with the input; repeating theobtaining step and the comparing step for each input; and providing oneor more default games most closely associated with the one or moreinputs.
 35. The method as recited in claim 34 further comprisingconfiguring a new game.
 36. The method as recited in claim 35, whereinconfiguring the new game includes returning one or mole default gamesmost closely associated with the configuration data.
 37. The method asrecited in claim 35, wherein configuring the new game includes modifyingthe one or more default game parameters.
 38. The method as recited inclaim 35, wherein configuring the new game includes modifying theappearance of the one or more default games.
 39. The method as recitedin claim 34, wherein obtaining game configuration data includesreceiving the game configuration data from a previously programmed game.40. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein obtaining gameconfiguration data includes receiving the game configuration data from amemory storage device.
 41. The method as recited in claim 34, whereinobtaining game configuration data includes receiving the gameconfiguration data from a remote memory storage location.
 42. The methodas recited in claim 34, wherein obtaining game configuration dataincludes receiving the game configuration data from a player operatingthe video game.
 43. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein providingone or more default games includes receiving the default games from thevideo game.
 44. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein providing oneor more default games includes receiving the default games from a remotememory storage location.
 45. The method as recited in claim 34 furthercomprising saving a game configuration.
 46. The method as recited inclaim 45, wherein the game configuration is saved on the video game. 47.The method as recited in claim 45, wherein the game configuration issaved on a recordable medium.
 48. The method as recited in claim 45,wherein the game configuration is saved at a remote memory storagelocation.
 49. The method as recited in claim 34 further comprisingpre-configuring a video game before entering the gaming establishment.50. The method as recited in claim 34 further comprising: trackingplayer configurations at the gaming establishment; recording the playergame configurations; and creating a custom game configuration from therecorded player game configurations.
 51. The method as recited in claim34, wherein the player game configuration data is configured by aplayer.
 52. The method as recited in claim 34, wherein the player gameconfiguration data is configured by the gaming establishment.
 53. In aconfigurable video game having a graphic user interface including adisplay and a user interface selection device, a method of providing andselecting a player configurable video game, the method comprising:obtaining game configuration data, wherein the data includes one or moreinputs from a user; comparing each of the one or more inputs with one ormore default game parameters; configuring one or more new games;displaying the one or more new games; receiving an entry signalindicative of the user selecting one of the one or more new games; anddisplaying the new game associated with the signal entry.
 54. The methodas recited in claim 53, wherein obtaining game configuration dataincludes receiving the game configuration data from a previouslyprogrammed game.
 55. The method as recited in claim 53, whereinobtaining game configuration data includes receiving the gameconfiguration data from a portable memory storage device.
 56. The methodas recited in claim 53, wherein obtaining game configuration dataincludes receiving the game configuration data from a remote memorystorage location.
 57. The method as recited in claim 53, whereinobtaining game configuration data includes receiving the gameconfiguration data from a player operating the video game.
 58. Themethod as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more default gameparameters are stored on the video game.
 59. The method as recited inclaim 53, wherein the one or more default game parameters are stored ona remote memory storage location.
 60. The method as recited in claim 53further comprising saving a game configuration.
 61. The method asrecited in claim 60, wherein the game configuration is saved on thevideo game.
 62. The method as recited in claim 60, wherein the gameconfiguration is saved on a recordable medium.
 63. The method as recitedin claim 60, wherein the game configuration is saved at a remote memorystorage location.
 64. The method as recited in claim 53 furthercomprising pre-configuring a video game before entering the gamingestablishment.
 65. The method as recited in claim 53 further comprising;tracking player game configurations at the gaming establishment;recording the player game configurations; and creating a custom gameconfiguration from the recorded player game configurations.
 66. Themethod as recited in claim 49, wherein the player game configurationdata is configured by a player.
 67. The method as recited in claim 53,wherein the player game configuration data is configured by the gamingestablishment.
 68. The method as recited in claim 53, whereinconfiguring one or more new games includes returning one or more defaultgames most closely associated with the player configuration data. 69.The method as recited in claim 53, wherein configuring one or more newgames includes modifying the one or more default game parameters. 70.The method as recited in claim 53, wherein configuring one or more newgames includes modifying the appearance of one or more default games.71. In a configurable video game having a graphic user interfaceincluding a display and a user interface selection device, a method ofproviding and selecting a player configurable video game, the methodcomprising: obtaining game configuration data, wherein the data includesan input from a user; comparing the user input with one or more defaultgame parameters; displaying a plurality of menu items, wherein the menuitems include entries to select one or more default games most closelyassociated with the user input and an entry to prompt the user to enterone or more additional user inputs; receiving an entry signal indicativeof the user selecting one of the plurality of menu items; in response toa selection of one of the one or more default games, displaying thedefault game associated with the signal entry; and in response to aselection of the user entry for additional user inputs, repeating theobtaining step, the comparing step, the displaying of plurality of menuitems step and the receiving step, and in response to a selection of oneof the one or more default games, displaying the default game associatedwith the signal entry.
 72. The method as recited in claim 71 furthercomprising configuring a new game.
 73. The method as recited in claim72, wherein configuring the new game includes returning one or moredefault games most closely associated with the configuration data. 74.The method as recited in claim 72, wherein configuring the new gameincludes modifying the one or more default game parameters.
 75. Themethod as recited in claim 72, wherein configuring the new game includesmodifying the appearance of the one or more default games.
 76. Themethod as recited in claim 71, wherein obtaining game configuration dataincludes receiving the game configuration data from a previouslyprogrammed game.
 77. The method as recited in claim 71, whereinobtaining game configuration data includes receiving the gameconfiguration data from a memory storage device.
 78. The method asrecited in claim 71, wherein obtaining game configuration data includesreceiving the game configuration data from a remote memory storagelocation.
 79. The method as recited in claim 71, wherein obtaining gameconfiguration data includes receiving the game configuration data from aplayer operating the video game.
 80. The method as recited in claim 71,wherein providing one or more default games includes receiving thedefault games from the video game.
 81. The method as recited in claim71, wherein providing one or more default games includes receiving thedefault games from a remote memory storage location.
 82. The method asrecited in claim 71 further comprising saving a game configuration. 83.The method as recited in claim 82, wherein the game configuration issaved on the video game.
 84. The method as recited in claim 82, whereinthe game configuration is saved on a recordable medium.
 85. The methodas recited in claim 82, wherein the game configuration is saved at aremote memory storage location.
 86. The method as recited in claim 71further comprising pre-configuring a video game before entering thegaming establishment.
 87. The method as recited in claim 71 furthercomprising: tracking player game configurations at the gamingestablishment; recording the player game configurations; and creating acustom game configuration from the recorded player game configurations.88. The method as recited in claim 71, wherein the player gameconfiguration data is configured by a player.
 89. The method as recitedin claim 71 wherein the player game configuration data is configured bythe gaming establishment.
 90. A system for implementing a playerconfigurable video game in a gaming establishment, the systemcomprising: means for obtaining player game configuration data, whereinthe data includes one or more inputs; processing means for implementingone or more new games; and displaying means for providing the one ormore new games.
 91. The system recited in claim 90, wherein theprocessing means includes comparing means for comparing the one or moreinputs with one or more default game parameters.
 92. The system recitedin claim 91, wherein the processing means includes configuring means toconfigure the one or more new games.
 93. The system recited in claim 92,wherein the configuring means includes returning one or more defaultgames most closely associated with the configuration data.
 94. Thesystem recited in claim 92, wherein the configuring means includesmodifying the one or more default game parameters.
 95. The systemrecited in claim 92, wherein the configuring means includes modifyingthe appearance of the one or more default games.